Kyiv, Ukraine — Russia launched massive missiles and drones targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Wednesday, hitting a thermal power plant and forcing Ukrainians to take shelter in subway stations on Christmas morning.

In a statement to X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said more than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and more than 100 attack drones were used to attack Ukrainian energy sources. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that a Russian missile passed through Moldovan and Romanian airspace.

“Putin deliberately chose Christmas to attack. What could be more inhumane?” said Zelenskyy. “They continue to fight for power outage in Ukraine.”

He said that Ukraine managed to shoot down at least 50 missiles and a significant number of drones.

Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said Russia is again “massively attacking the energy infrastructure,” in a statement on Facebook. The Air Force of Ukraine recorded multiple missiles fired at Kharkiv, Dnipro and Poltava regions in the east of the country.

“The operator of the (electricity) distribution system takes the necessary measures to limit consumption in order to minimize the negative consequences for the power system,” he said. As soon as the security situation allows it, Energetika employees will determine the resulting damage.

Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, said Russia had attacked one of its thermal power plants, making it the 13th attack on Ukraine’s power grid this year.

“Depriving millions of peace-loving people of light and warmth while celebrating Christmas is a depraved and evil act that must be answered,” DTEK CEO Maxim Timchenko wrote on his X account.

Ukraine’s state-owned energy operator Ukrenergo has launched precautionary power cuts across the country due to a “massive rocket attack”, causing power outages in several districts of the capital, Kyiv.

At least seven attacks targeted Kharkiv, causing fires across the city, regional leader Oleh Syniehubov wrote on Telegram. At least three people were injured, local authorities said.

“Kharkiv is under heavy rocket fire. A series of explosions rang out in the city and there are still ballistic missiles flying in the direction of the city. Stay in safe places,” said Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

Ukraine’s energy grid has been under heavy attack ever since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, and Kiev accused Moscow of “terror” tactics by trying to throw Ukrainian cities into darkness and cut off heating to civilians throughout the winter.